The scheme, which the government dubs “Modicare,” was announced in Thursday’s federal budget for 2018/19 and would provide about 500 million poor people, with health cover of Rs500,000 per year for free treatment of serious ailments. Modi faces a national election next year and the new health program is seen as a signature initiative to woo voters in the countryside, many of whom struggle with high healthcare costs. Some critics have raised doubts whether Rs20 billion in federal funding is enough to support the program for 2018-19. The Rs50 billion in federal funding on top of the budget allocation of Rs20 billion would be made available as the scheme details are worked out over the coming months, the official said. Modi’s government on Thursday also raised the federal health budget by 11.5% to $8.3 billion for 2018-19.

Source: Dhaka Tribune February 03, 2018 15:56 UTC